Psalm 63

A few years ago the US Secretary of Agriculture was photographed just a few miles from our home in a field as dry as this one.  Livestock tanks (what we called ponds at home) were just about as dry, some shallow ones with just mud in the bottom.  It was easy to describe this as a dry and thirsty land.  David knew such, both physically and spiritually:

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (Psalms 63:1 KJV)

This Psalm was pastor’s topic last night.  I often think of the phrase “dry and thirsty land” when we drive around here.  This winter was such a time, but spring rains have filled the tanks and left some over.  Then come thoughts of the 23rd Psalm and our cup over flowing.  We experience both in our life.

Do we experience seeking Him early?  Pastor suggested that we commit to seeking Him upon awakening, before getting out of bed. Or do we find excuses to ignore Him throughout the day?

I find it so comforting to start each day in His word.  When she was commuting an hour, Second daughter would get up thirty minutes earlier than necessary for her Bible study before heading out into the work world.  Now that she drives five minutes and doesn’t report to work until 9:00, that time comes a bit later, but it is always there in the morning.

To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. (Psalms 63:2 KJV)

We have seen the results of God’s work, but we have not seen all of His power, nor has mankind seen His glory. When Moses beseeched the Lord to see Him in His glory, He replied:

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. (Exodus 33:20 KJV)

What part of God’s glory that was seen was reflected in Moses:

And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. (Exodus 34:29 KJV)

David did not experience that ‘face to face’ communion with God, but he did experience the satisfaction of knowing his Lord:

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: (Psalms 63:5 KJV)

Just as he started his day early with his Lord, David also took Him with him to bed:

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. (Psalms 63:6 KJV)

This is my favorite time with my Lord.  When I go to sleep with the comforting peace He offers to all.  There are times when the detritus of my day hangs on that I visualize packing my (sorrows, troubles, problems, etc) into a box and hand them over to my Lord in exchange for the burden He offers.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30 KJV)

Oh, to build the faith that David has shared with us!!